Retro fitness: hula hooping at the Berkeley hotel

Move your hips – for the second year running, hula hooping classes are available to book over the summer at London’s luxurious the Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge.

Forget CrossFit, HIIT, Tabata and Soul Cycle, the counter-trend to 21st-century workouts is a return to old school. The trend for retro fitness is taking off, with boxing, home DVDs and skipping all enjoying a moment once again. This time, it’s hula hooping from the 1950s.

Who’d have thought you could burn up to 600 calories an hour doing hula hooping? Hula-hoop fitness experts HulaFit, that’s who – and now you do too. “Bring your core to the floor,” is the London-based company’s motto, which has studios in Hackney, Kennington, Paddington, King’s Cross and Embankment.

As it grows in popularity, top London hotel the Berkeley is offering its rooftop poolside location for classes over the summer (until September 28). Fitness freaks can book sessions with HulaFit founder Anna Byrne, and avail themselves of unique Berkeley-branded hula-hoops which can also be taken home.

Hula hooping classes cost £65 an hour at the Berkeley hotel

According to HulaFit, the workout is designed to focus on core muscles “for a supreme abdominal workout”. Instructors will teach a variety of hooping styles and tricks – beginning with the basic “Waist Hooping”, participants will move on to “Turning and Pirouettes”, ‘”the Limbo”, “the Vortex”, “Body Wraps” and the “Booty Bump”.

HulaFit says: “From simple waist curls to more advanced techniques, HulaFit will keep the intensity high combining sexy style with challenging cardio”. Following each class, Berkeley hula-hoopers can swim in the pool overlooking Hyde Park.

Byrne says: “We are so excited to be bringing this fun initiative back to one of London’s top spas adding a fresh, figure enhancing concept to the rooftops of Knightsbridge. Hooping is a question of ‘muscle memory’ and as agility and strength develop, guests can return time and time again to perfect their routine and their curves.”

Hula hooping classes are available every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm. To book, call the Berkeley Health Club and Spa on +44 (0) 20 7201 1699 or email hulahoop@the-berkeley.co.uk.